Ok, it's freaking cold!! I'm wearing gloves, and typing!! LOL, I have yoga pants on under my jeans and I'm still cold. It's been fairly warm because of the rain, but it cleared up yesterday and the temps dropped.

Been relaxing lately. mostly because I was non-stop sewing right up til xmas, making everyone sleepy pants....here's Steve's

The rain and wind has really done a number on my paddock paradise setup, mostly because of my bad decision in the fence post department. the ground is so soft my cheapie galvanized posts are starting to lean, the fence is starting to sag. But this is ALOT of rain we're talking about. I need to throw in some Tposts for stability.

I also need to purchase some more mats, they have dry areas to stand in the shelter, but I want more. LOL. just maybe 3 more mats would cover the dirt area of the shelter which is now a mudhole. that reminds me I need to see how much some rocks would be. Put down a good 4-6" layer of drainage rocks, and then mats on top would be freaking awesome!

Also planning my training pen, which will be on the north side of the property, hopefully with some sort of track around it. I need to move or dissemble a 'gazebo' that I have, ideally I'd love to move it, put it on new footers - there is no way I'm going to be able ot move the floor, I'm sure half of it is rotted out - then side it and make it a small storage shed. Heck even a chicken coop would be cool! I need to move this thing, cuz it's right in the middle of the area I want a pen - and it's wood, aka donkey snacks!

But ya, hopefully I'll have some sort of training pen soon - fairly round, maybe more oval than round, so far I'm thinking T posts and Horseguard. That seems to be my best option right now. I'd like to get a easy to use switch where I can turn that section ( the pen) of fencing off. I'll let 'em loose in there a couple time with it on, then once I'm actually in there training, it'll get shut off, I don't really wanna get shocked LOL.

Hoping also to either build or purchase a cart in 2011. I think Daisy will be awesome at pulling a cart. so keeping my fingers crossed!!

they really lived up to their names today!I saw part of the fence hanging kinda funny, so I needed I should go look at it. Good thing I didn't wait. becuase I found that they ripped off a section of boards and in the process knocked one of the supports to the awning outta whack. It was just barely holding the roof up!

I was beyond mad. thankfully I have a job where when this stuff comes up I tell my boss 'hey I really gotta fix this NOW' and he understands. He even loaned me his floor jack so I could raise the roof and put the post back in place.

I had TWO strands of hot wire on this sucker!! but they still would chew the boards at the bottom. I immediatly put step in posts in and strung two strands of hot wire about 2' away from the 'affected' area, so they can't even get close to it!

I then jacked it up, pushed the post back into place, screwed down the board that acts as a shim, let the roof back down. then cut braces to put on the side. My boss loaned me his impact drill too. My 18V Ryobi just can't quite get 2.5" screws all the way in. Sucked down lots of screws, test the fence to make sure it's hot and called it good.

I just got back and emailed my BF the pic. He's pretty upset, his Ural ( sidecar motorcycle) is parked under that awning. If that wouldn't came down it would've been BAD! I was mad too though, I love that motorcycle ,and I'm fed up with the donks breaking everything!!!

Hot wire and metal!!!

ok, rant over......and now for the damage...........

REALLY!?!JERKS!

Almost fixed, bracing is next.

OK, well I guess I should post some other damage pics from the past couple years. 'they chew wood' is an UNDERSTATEMENT!!

yes, they're fed appropriately, yes they usually have grass to eat, yes they have a tree to eat instead, yes they have pasture. I think they just like to drive me INSANE.

My barn, after donkeys, before metal siding!!

Stall front BEFORE!

Stall front AFTER, that is a 2x12 in the background, eaten all the way through!

I got today off, have to work tomorrow though due to a customer's cabinet not being the right color and it having to be redone, so i can't finish the job til saturday. Boo & yay at the same time. So today is going to be finishing up some Christmas gifts ( sewing), finishing up an ornament order, and making a dog sweatshirt I promised. Just been too darned busy with work and been swamped in the evenings.

My a/p saddle pad sold on Etsy, so I'm gonna ship that out today too. YAY. then I gotta pick up some wood shavings for the cricket kitty's crate, so she can get all snuggy in it. She also has a heating pad under the crate, so it's kitty radiant heated floor.

I've decided I'm going to make my dad a pair of sleepy pants for Christmas, i dunno if he'll wear them or not, but I don't think he has sleepy pants. I'm gonna pick up some John Deere polar fleece fabric. He ought to get a kick out of that. He used to be a farmer and owned a lot of deere equipment, so I think it's pretty fitting. LOL

Also I want to make some 'leashes' for a couple cases that are in the work trailer. they're big and heavy and sit on a shelf. when you need a specific one you kinda have to fight with it a bit to slide it out. They have D rings on the end, so I'm gonna make some little leashes so you can grab the leash and pull the case out easier. I think it's a good idea.

Rain today, boo. The girls ( donks) are having better manners than they used to. I attribute alot of that to Martha being in a 'herd' situation for over month. She learned some manners, which in turn makes Daisy act less crazy. Martha isn't reacting like she used to. so Daisy being a butthead doesn't have as big of an effect, which almost is making the behavior extinct. which I love. So now I can walk into the pen, with two full hay nets, without fear of being kicked or ran over! It's awesome!!

Finally convinced Amber the dog that the dog house is a good idea. I moved it up onto the patio deck, with the opening facing the house, put her little towel in there and told her to go in. After I went back in she threw a fit for awhile, but I just checked on her - she's curled up on the towel in the house. FINALLY!! this dog previously would just stand in the rain like an idiot.

Almost finished with my custom order, waiting on one buckle for the other collar, boo. lol. but the rest of it is done, so here is the one collar, and two 6' slip leads. Each lead has a ring on the hand loop where you can attach your keys or poop bags LOL.